#Bramhaputra River Cruise
#Jim Corbett Special
Bramhaputra River Cruise
Duration
8days/ 7night
Suggested Itinerary:
A charming waterway twisting and turning between banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards. Moor at the delightful sleepy village of Baranagar with three gorgeous miniature terracotta temples to which you walk through the fields. This is rural India at its most idyllic. Later sail on down past Azimganj with some fine riverside mansions to Murshidabad where the Nawab's great Hazarduari Palace, built by an English architect in 1837, dominates the waterfront. Inside are an extensive collection of pictures, china, weapons and other objects. Visit the great Katra Mosque and drive out to two amazing buildings of the late 18th century, the Nashipara Palace and the Palace of Jagat Sett. Both were built in classical Georgian style by rich local merchants and represent the other side of the coin of the "White Moghul" period when English and Indian cultures came close to fusion.
Itinerary:
Day 01: Arrive Kolkata (Calcutta)
On arrival at Kolkata airport you will be met by our local representative who will transfer you to your hotel.
Overnight : Hotel
Day 02: Kolkatta – New Farakka – ‘Sukhapa’ (Bramhaputra Cruise)
Morning after breakfast check out of the hotel and take a sightseeing tour of Kolkata, visiting the white marble Victoria Memorial with its fine picture collection, St John's Church, the atmospheric South Park St Cemetery and down Chowringhee past Ochterlony's Column, Government House, Writers' Buildings and other Calcutta landmarks.
Afternoon transfer to Sealdah station to board train to New Farakka.
Depart Sealdah 1335 hrs 3141 Testa Torsa Express
Arrive Farakka 2110 hrs
On arrival at New Farakka proceed to Farakka Dock to board the cruise "Sukapha".
Overnight : Cruise
Day 03: New Farakka - Jangipur
A full day excursion by road takes you across the Ganges barrage and past the town of Malda, or English Bazar, to Gaur. This quiet, deserted place was once one of India's great cities, first under the Hindus in 12th century, then as the muslim capital of Eastern India from the 14th to the 16th century. There are plentiful remains of mosques, palaces and gateways and you visit a number of the most interesting.
Return to the boat by way of Pandua whose Adina Mosque rated comparison with the Great Mosque of Damascus. You rejoin "Sukapha" at Jangipur.
Overnight : Cruise
Day 03: Jangipur – Baranagar - Murshidabad
Cruise down the Hooghly, a charming waterway twisting and turning between banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards. Moor at the delightful sleepy village of Baranagar with three gorgeous miniature terracotta temples to which you walk through the fields. This is rural India at its most idyllic.
Later sail on down past Azimganj with some fine riverside mansions to Murshidabad where the Nawab's great Hazarduari Palace, built by an English architect in 1837, dominates the waterfront. Inside are an extensive collection of pictures, china, weapons and other objects. Visit the great Katra Mosque and drive out to two amazing buildings of the late 18th century, the Nashipara Palace and the Palace of Jagat Sett. Both were built in classical Georgian style by rich local merchants and represent the other side of the coin of the "White Moghul" period when English and Indian cultures came close to fusion.
Overnight : On the riverbank across from town
Day 04: Murshidabad – Behrampur - Katwa
Sail downstream a short distance then travel by cycle rickshaw to the Khushbagh, a peaceful Moghul-style garden enclosing the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah and his family.
Continue downstream past Berhampur to a rural mooring close to the battlefield of Plassey where in 1757 Clive's defeat of Siraj-ud-Daulah changed the course of Indian history - you can walk through the fields to the commemorative obelisk.
Cruise on to an overnight mooring near Katwa, a market town with narrow bustling bazaars.
Overnight : Cruise ¨
Day 05: Katwa – Mayapur - Nabadwip
This morning visit the brass working village of Matiari where you can see the whole primitive process of beating out brass water pots and other vessels.
Later reach Mayapur, its skyline dominated by the vast new ISKCON temple which we are able to visit. Perhaps visit also the older and humbler temples as well as the giant banyan tree at Nabadwip on the opposite bank before sailing on to an overnight mooring.
Overnight : Cruise
Day 06: Nabadwip – Kalna
Cruise down to the country town of Kalna and take cycle rickshaws to see a group of some of Bengal's most attractive terracotta temples, as well as the unique Shiva temple with concentric rings made up of 108 shrinelets.
Continue on down to an overnight anchorage in the outskirts of Calcutta.
Overnight : Cruise
Day 07: Kalna – Bandel – Kolkatta
You land at Bandel to visit the Portuguese church as well as the nearby Imambara and the Dutch cemetery at Chinsura. Then sailing past fine waterfront buildings you land at Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950, and visit the 18th century church and Dupleix's House containing a small museum.
Continue down to Barrackpore, land and take a walk through the cantonment past the Semaphore Tower, Government House, the Temple of Fame, and Flagstaff House, its garden housing many of the British statues removed from central Calcutta. Cross to the other bank to visit the old Danish colony of Serampore.
Sail on to dock just below Howrah Bridge at dusk.
Overnight : Cruise
Day 08: Depart Kolkata
Morning after breakfast, disembark the cruise and transfer to Kolkata airport to board flight for your onward journey.
Jim Corbett Special
Duration
10days/ 9night
Suggested Itinerary:
At the Jim Corbett National Park you will be treated to remarkable sights — majestic Tigers; frail Deer, Wild Boar and many more varieties of animals. You might even see Leopards and the Himalayan Black Bears, mostly sighted in hilly areas of the Corbett Park. Elephants are among one of the main attractions of Jim Corbett Park. Also seen on the rocky hillsides is the Ghoral or Goat Antelopes. The Langur and Rhesus Monkeys are dispersed through out the jungle observing everything from tree-top perches.
Itinerary:
Day 01: Delhi
Arrive late this evening.
Overnight : Delhi
Day 02: Delhi
This day, visit Old Delhi - Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat and view externally the building of Lutyens Delhi and New Delhi - Qutub Minar, Humayun's tomb.
Overnight : Delhi
Day 03: Delhi-Nainital
A day spent driving 8 hrs, through some wonderful countryside.
Overnight : Nainital
Day 04: Nainital
A full day’s sight seeing of Nainital - Naini Lake, Tiffin Top, Naina Devi temple, Jama Masjid and a Sikh Gurudwara.
Overnight : Nainital
Day 05: Nainital
The day is at leisure to take walks, and enjoy the countryside, or go rock climbing / trekking.
Overnight : Nainital
Day 06: Nainital-Corbett
A 5 hr drive downhill, brings you to the world famous Jim Corbett National Park.
Overnight : Corbett
Day 07: Corbett
Take safari’s into the jungle to visit the local flora & fauna. These are best done over sunrise & sunset.
Overnight : Corbett
Day 08: Corbett-Mussoorie
After an early morning jungle safari, carry onwards to Mussoorie.
Overnight : Mussoorie
Day 09: Mussoorie
A great day to enjoy walks, and the shopping on Mall Road!
Overnight : Mussoorie.
Day 10: Mussoorie-Delhi
Return this day to Delhi, from where you take your international flight overseas.
